Board nominates local member to OSBA ballot after debate over process

The Lebanon Community School District board voted to nominate Clyde to appear on the ballot for the Oregon School Boards Association regional board after a short but pointed discussion about process and transparency.

Chair Oliver opened the nomination discussion after receiving two candidate expressions of interest, including Lohooi Whitebear from Corvallis and Clyde, who asked the board to support his candidacy. Clyde described his short tenure on the board and lessons from visiting neighboring districts, saying visits helped him consider ideas such as community corner coffees and stronger collaboration with local government.

Several board members said they wanted more background material from any candidate before a nomination. One member said the board’s normal process is to circulate candidate information and give members time to review it, while another urged that nominations not be used as a back-channel and that candidates confirm their own home boards had considered nomination.

Despite those requests for more information, a motion to nominate Clyde to appear on the OSBA ballot was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The meeting record shows the board approved the nomination by a spoken “aye” vote and the chair acknowledged the motion carried; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

Board members who spoke urged that, moving forward, candidate statements and a clearer timeline be circulated in advance so individual trustees can make an informed decision. The board also discussed the separate matter of nominating a candidate for the OSBA Legislative Policy Committee, but members deferred any formal nomination pending more information.

The board did not take action to appoint Clyde to OSBA; the recorded vote was to place his name on the regional ballot for OSBA directors. The board’s next scheduled actions on OSBA nominations were not specified at the meeting’s close.